Dog Urinates On Bed In Sleep

[FANG]

I have a male Boxer who will be two years old on 10 November this year. He is toilet trained, though initially I had some problems because he would never tell me when he needed to go, but after I installed a bell at the back door and taught him to ring it, that issue was resolved.

Sometimes he drinks too much water, goes to sleep and then doesn't wake up until he's already urinating. There will then be urine on his bed and a trail of urine to me or to the door. The urine is always very dilute and usually without any colour at all. Recently this has been happening more frequently. It has happened three times in the last week; it happened once a few weeks before that and then once about a month before that. Prior to that he hadn't had an accident in many months. About a year or less ago I had his urine tested due to this problem and was told there was nothing wrong with it.

I am hesitant to restrict his water supply, but I don't know what else to do. The vet suggested I take him out in the middle of the night, even though he has almost always lasted the whole night for well over a year now. This morning at around 3am I got up and woke him up to offer him to go outside but he showed no interest. At around 4:30am I was woken by him coming into my bedroom and urinating everywhere... again with a trail of urine from his bed.

Does anyone have any advice? Needless to say, I am really frustrated!

[tlc]

My first thought would be UTI, a trip back to the vet to rule that out before anything else.

Is he normally a heavy sleeper? Wonder if it is possible for dogs to be like some kids that just don't wake and wet the bed but I would think if that was the case it would have been happening all along?

Good luck, hoepfully someone else will come along with some other ideas!

[stormie]

I would be getting his urine tested and maybe some bloods too. A normal healthy dog shouldn't really be drinking that much water to make his urine so dilute and fill his bladder so much.

I have had this happen with Orbit occasionally, but this has been a result of his cortisone for skin, which makes him really thirsty and therefore want to drink a lot of water. As a result his urine is very dilute and occasionally his bladder and filled up to over flowing point and he's had a bit of a leak in his sleep and made a trail to the door.

[Kiara&Heidi]

This happened to my dog once - she would do it almost every night (In my bed ). Took her to the vet and they found nothing wrong, but offered a medication to tighten her bladder (I think, can't really remember) which I declined because I would rather clean up urine than medicate when it's avoidable. Eventually she just stopped, and hasn't done it for years.

When you say you had his urine checked, did they just look at it under the microscope straight away, or did they culture it? Culturing is more accurate, so you might want to get it done if you want to rule out a UTI.

It is very possible that he is just a heavy sleeper and/or has a weak bladder. I would be more concerned about why he is drinking so much water (if it's a really excessive amount).

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Heavy drinking and incontinence can be a key indicator for diabetes. Get bloods done to rule this out. With my old girl we tested her urine for sugar when I first noticed her drinking more and her incontinence getting worse - nothing showed. We then did urine and bloods a few weeks later and she had developed diabetes and needed to be put on insulin. It could also be a problem with kidney function.

As others have said UTI would be a ringing out in my head too. Or maybe there is a muscular/hormonal problem causing incontinence - in which case there are medications that can be used.

Don't let what I've said send you into a panic - this is just going from my experience of similar symptoms (similar not the same!!). But I certainly don't think it is normal and I would do some hunting to try and find the cause and treat it. Chances are your dog is probably not feeling so great about the accidents either (I used to find that Em would look embarrassed whenever it happened - yes I'm anthropomorphising, but I could tell it upset her somewhat).

[FANG]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I took him to the vet this morning and she examined him and tested his urine. She said everything seemed perfectly normal and there was no need to do a blood test. She diagnosed Psychogenic Polydipsia, which is when a dog will drink too much but for no good reason. She said it is common for neurotic dogs (he is very; whenever I leave the house or have people over he goes berserk) to drink too much just for something to do. It also helps to explain the inconsistency of the problem. She said I should try to measure exactly how much he is drinking every day for the next five days to be sure.

[poodlefan]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I took him to the vet this morning and she examined him and tested his urine. She said everything seemed perfectly normal and there was no need to do a blood test. She diagnosed Psychogenic Polydipsia, which is when a dog will drink too much but for no good reason. She said it is common for neurotic dogs (he is very; whenever I leave the house or have people over he goes berserk) to drink too much just for something to do. It also helps to explain the inconsistency of the problem. She said I should try to measure exactly how much he is drinking every day for the next five days to be sure.

I'd be getting a second opinion on that and quickly.

I'd suggest you get some help for his behavioural issues also.

Edited August 1, 2011 by poodlefan

[k9angel]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I took him to the vet this morning and she examined him and tested his urine. She said everything seemed perfectly normal and there was no need to do a blood test. She diagnosed Psychogenic Polydipsia, which is when a dog will drink too much but for no good reason. She said it is common for neurotic dogs (he is very; whenever I leave the house or have people over he goes berserk) to drink too much just for something to do. It also helps to explain the inconsistency of the problem. She said I should try to measure exactly how much he is drinking every day for the next five days to be sure.

I'd be getting a second opinion on that and quickly.

I'd suggest you get some help for his behavioural issues also.

Same and same, it doesn't sound normal to me.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I'd be looking for a second opinion. When Em was incontinent we discussed "Psychogenic Polydipsia", but it was recommended to do other testing as it is not often that is the only issue going on. Given what I've gone through in the last 18 months with medical issues with Emma - and all of it stemmed from the symptoms of drinking a bit much and having incontinence - I would strongly recommend making sure every other problem is ruled out. Full bloods should cost you less than $200 and compared to what it could cost if it is a bigger underlying problem I'd say it could be some of the best money spent even if only for peace of mind.

[FANG]

I'd be getting a second opinion on that and quickly.

I'd suggest you get some help for his behavioural issues also.

I have tried getting help for his behavioural issues, believe me! He is actually very well trained and obedient, but he just gets immensely excited around people and other dogs. The vet said that it's normal for a Boxer of his age.

I'd be looking for a second opinion. When Em was incontinent we discussed "Psychogenic Polydipsia", but it was recommended to do other testing as it is not often that is the only issue going on. Given what I've gone through in the last 18 months with medical issues with Emma - and all of it stemmed from the symptoms of drinking a bit much and having incontinence - I would strongly recommend making sure every other problem is ruled out. Full bloods should cost you less than $200 and compared to what it could cost if it is a bigger underlying problem I'd say it could be some of the best money spent even if only for peace of mind.

The vet said that the urine tests showed his kidneys are functioning properly and the glucose result was normal too, so she said it wouldn't be diabetes or a problem with his kidneys. She also said that he seemed very well and that it was therefore very unlikely to be diabetes. I am worried about him, but the vets explanation makes sense to me and I am really stressed about money at the moment... :/

[sterlingsilver]

My friends dog had incontinence but with no cause that could be determined, despite lots of tests,and the vet put him on Incurin...every second day,and he has been right ever since....a few years now.

Edited August 1, 2011 by sterlingsilver

[A-B-C]

I'd be looking for a second opinion. When Em was incontinent we discussed "Psychogenic Polydipsia", but it was recommended to do other testing as it is not often that is the only issue going on. Given what I've gone through in the last 18 months with medical issues with Emma - and all of it stemmed from the symptoms of drinking a bit much and having incontinence - I would strongly recommend making sure every other problem is ruled out. Full bloods should cost you less than $200 and compared to what it could cost if it is a bigger underlying problem I'd say it could be some of the best money spent even if only for peace of mind.

PME is there a thread regarding your probs with Em? If not, mind if I ask what the problem was etc?

I'd be looking for a second opinion. When Em was incontinent we discussed "Psychogenic Polydipsia", but it was recommended to do other testing as it is not often that is the only issue going on. Given what I've gone through in the last 18 months with medical issues with Emma - and all of it stemmed from the symptoms of drinking a bit much and having incontinence - I would strongly recommend making sure every other problem is ruled out. Full bloods should cost you less than $200 and compared to what it could cost if it is a bigger underlying problem I'd say it could be some of the best money spent even if only for peace of mind.

The vet said that the urine tests showed his kidneys are functioning properly and the glucose result was normal too, so she said it wouldn't be diabetes or a problem with his kidneys. She also said that he seemed very well and that it was therefore very unlikely to be diabetes. I am worried about him, but the vets explanation makes sense to me and I am really stressed about money at the moment... :/

China drinks more than what I consider normal, BUT it is not a consistent thing and happens when she is anxious/stressed/stimulated.

I took China to the vet to get things checked out. At the beginning of the consult we discussed possible outcomes, I mentioned diabetes and she indicated that China did not present as a diabetic dog. We had both urine and blood work done... all came up with zip, zero, zilch! The vet decided that it was either Psychogenic Polydipsia or Diabetes Insipidus (which is an actual problem in the brain and nothing to do with the pancreas). The vet wanted to send China away to a specialist to test her for the Diabete Insipidus (by withdrawing access to water). This was despite the fact that I had told her that the excess water consumption was when she was anxious/stressed/stimulated etc and despite the fact that she herself had indicated that China did not present as a Diabetic dog. China had also leaked since she had been desexed; something that had been able to be managed until the water intake was excessive... the vet refused to assit me with treatment for the leaking until China had been sent to the specialist (despite my indicating that China had leaked since desexing). She did not listen to me at all!... the person who knew the dog best. : Needless to say I sought a second opinion!!

Note: at the time of all tests we had just moved to the city and China was COMPLETELY stressed out of her head and borderline neurotic for the first month!... until I finally found an appropriate rental for us and we moved into our permanent home, where both the dogs settled immediately and China's water intake reduced as a consequence.

[FANG]

Okay so I have been monitoring his water intake for a week now, and here is what I have observed:

- The most he's had to drink in a 24 hour period is 1.5 litres. He weighs 25kg, so I think that is a normal amount to drink.

- He does seem to not drink for a long period and then drink most of his water for the day in one go.

He has had a couple of accidents again, despite me waking up to take him out at least once during the night. The most telling example occurred this morning. Last night I took him out to pee at no earlier than 10:30pm. I watched him while I listened to the clock ticking and he urinated for almost a minute and a half. Then at 4:30am I woke up because he rang the bell. I let him out and checked his bed. There were a couple of drops of urine on it and a reasonable sized puddle on the treadmill next to his bed. When I cleaned it up I noticed there was very little colour, so it was very dilute.

When the vet examined him, she said he was well hydrated. I don't understand how he can be producing so much dilute urine when he is drinking a normal amount. I am waiting for the vet to call me back.

[stormie]

Did the Vet say that he had dilute urine? Because he cannot have constantly dilute urine if he's not drinking excess water. If his urine is dilute, then he must have access to another source of water, eg toilet, pool etc.

Obviously if he drinks 1litre of his daily 1.5litres in one go, his urine immediately after this will be dilute, but it won't be dilute all the time.

[FANG]

No, the vet didn't say his urine was dilute, that's just been my observation whenever he's had an accident.

It's possible he was drinking from the birdbath... I did empty it a week ago, but it rained a few days later. So I know that for the first few days he definitely wasn't drinking from it and there are no other water sources aside from his water bowls.

[dee lee]

Do you fill his water bowl in the mornings and leave it all day, and then he only drinks it at night?

My dog has re-occurring hormonal incontinence. I find it mostly re-occurs when she has been drinking excessive amounts of water. So I tend to fill up her bowl during the day when necessary, then in the evenings after her last wee (at @7pm) I will only put a small amount in her bowl. Its usually still there when I go to bed, but gone in the morning when I fill her bowl up again. It has helped enormously with reducing any nocturnal accidents.

There was a thread in General recently about withholding water from dogs. It generated quite a robust discussion, but I personally believe that minimising water intake just before bed and during the night should not be an issue, considering they will get most of their intake during the day and should be sleeping at night.

Just like humans. ;)

[stormie]

No, the vet didn't say his urine was dilute, that's just been my observation whenever he's had an accident.

It's possible he was drinking from the birdbath... I did empty it a week ago, but it rained a few days later. So I know that for the first few days he definitely wasn't drinking from it and there are no other water sources aside from his water bowls.

Then I just can't imagine it's as dilute as you think, because as I said, it's not physically possible for a dog to be polyuric without being polydipsic - they go hand in hand.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Normal water intake for a dog is approximately 100ml per kg. That's the easy calculation. There's a bit of give and take. As it's winter less water intake would be expected, but less intake would mean that it isn't dilute (as it still is removing salts so therefore is more likely to be concentrated if they aren't drinking much). I know that Em was tricksy with her water intake she was always locked in the house with 1 water bowl when we did a water test as she would drink from every pot plant, bucket, puddle she could find!!!!

[Pretty Miss Emma]

I'd be looking for a second opinion. When Em was incontinent we discussed "Psychogenic Polydipsia", but it was recommended to do other testing as it is not often that is the only issue going on. Given what I've gone through in the last 18 months with medical issues with Emma - and all of it stemmed from the symptoms of drinking a bit much and having incontinence - I would strongly recommend making sure every other problem is ruled out. Full bloods should cost you less than $200 and compared to what it could cost if it is a bigger underlying problem I'd say it could be some of the best money spent even if only for peace of mind.

PME is there a thread regarding your probs with Em? If not, mind if I ask what the problem was etc?

Em seemed to have slight incontinence (presented as periodic incontinence maybe a couple of times a month when I first got her as a 9yo) so we put her on Stilboestrol. That worked brilliantly for about 12-18 months. She was always a big drinker, got her bloods done early when she first came to live with me - no problems at all, perfect!!!! The Stilboestrol stopped working (apparently this is not uncommon), so we changed her on to Propalin. Again worked really well, then I started seeing a few accidents again. Did urine and bloods early 2010, came back with nothing. Started looking into testing for Cushing's as that testing was more complex and also discussed testing for diabetes insipidus. Did a water test for her (she drank 2.3L as a 17kg dog = 500ml too much). So then did urine again in April 2010 (after her incontinence was getting worse) not long after the water. Came back with really high sugar in her blood. Immediately did a spot BGL and it was high, within a week she was on twice daily insulin. Apparently in dogs diabetes can often show up in this way - out of the blue, not many symptoms leading up to it and not necessarily showing up clearly in early tests. Anyway she did really well until the October, then went completely blind within 2 weeks from diabetes induced cataracts. We had surgery to remove them. Lots of complications followed. She also had a bug in her lungs and developed pneumonia in April this year (diabetics are exceptionally susceptible to infections). This then caused her to become hyperglycaemic and we spent 3 months trying to battle getting her BGL back to what it should be. Then 12 July she was not good, thought it was due to incorrect insulin dose, was actually kidney failure and she was PTS that day (her kidneys were totally shot and there was no course of treatment that would have ensured her any quality of life). She'd had bloods done maybe a month earlier and everything was great, then everything fell apart.

So a huge trail of issues, and I was doing blood tests every 6 months on her and very regular urine testing. Sometimes things just come up suddenly and you just do what you can.

In all honesty through all of this it also came down to me trusting my gut. There were times when I kept up with following up little hints that something wasn't right and I do have a very supportive vet who would always recommend appropriate testing and do whatever testing I asked for - it served us well in her treatment and diagnosis. But the 2 biggies - diabetes and kidney failure - took all of us by suprise because she wasn't presenting as having typical symptoms of those until the day of diagnosis.

[A-B-C]

cripes PME that is some ordeal. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer as I'm sure it wasn't easy.